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Dragons

Get ready to dive into a new realm and witness myths made real!

What Will You Discover?

Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey where mythical creatures spring to life in the most unexpected forms! From the tree python’s majestic movements that echo tales of sky serpents, to the crocodile skink with its fierce demeanor, you’ll feel as if you stumbled upon a dragon’s lair.

Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

The dwarf caiman is a solitary species, only congregating during breeding season. After mating, the male caiman will move on, but the female will protect her young for several weeks after they hatch.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

Up to 60 inches

Habitat

Flooded forests, rivers, streams

Range

Northern and central South America

Diet

Fish, insects, amphibians, birds, crustaceans

Did You Know?

The dwarf caiman is the smallest crocodilian species in the Americas! Jaguars and even anacondas may prey upon an unsuspecting caiman.

Dumeril's Monitor Dumeril's Monitor

Dumeril's Monitor

Dumeril’s monitors have a long head and neck, aa slim body, and a flat tail. They're typically brown and tan with banded or spotted patterns on their back and neck.

Size

Up to 4.5 feet in total length

Range

Indigenous to southeastern Asia

Habitat

Lowland forests, coastal mangrove swamps

Diet

Small animals, birds, lizards, and small mammals

Did You Know?

The Dumeril's monitor can remain underwater for more than an hour!

Green Crested Basilisk Green Crested Basilisk

Green Crested Basilisk

The green crested basilisk is the most brightly colored of the four basilisk species. These lizards can run on their hind legs and briefly glide on water before diving underwater, where they can stay for over 10 minutes.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

Up to 3 feet

Habitat

Tropical rainforests

Range

Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

Diet

Insects, spiders, small mammals, crawfish, and snails

Did You Know?

When threatened, the green crested basilisk can drop from a tree into the water and sprint about 5 feet per second across the surface.

Kimberley Rock Monitor Kimberley Rock Monitor

Kimberley Rock Monitor

Kimberley rock monitors are slim lizards from Northwestern Australia's Kimberley region. They have striking patterns and very long tails, making up more than half of their body length.

Range

Australia

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Trees or rocky cliffs

Diet

Large insects and other small lizards

Size

Up to 4 feet, with most of the length being tail.

Did You Know?

Kimberley rock monitors are skilled in various habitats, feeling equally comfortable in rock piles or up in trees.

Siren Siren

Siren

The greater siren is the third longest salamander in the Western Hemisphere. It stays juvenile-like, with no hindlimbs, pelvic girdle, or eyelids. It keeps external gills and small lungs throughout its life.

Diet

Aquatic invertebrates

Size

49 to 97 centimeters in length

Habitat

Ditches, lakes, ponds and other slow-moving fresh water

Range

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains from Virginia south through Florida and west to parts of eastern Alabama.

Did You Know?

On rare occasions, sirens will venture onto dry land for brief periods, out of the water, they can make a squeaking sound.

Gila Monster Gila Monster

Gila Monster

Gila monsters are black with pink or orange patterns on their backs. The Gila monster is venomous. It produces venom in glands located in its lower jaw. When it bites, the venom flows through its teeth into its prey.

Diet

Small mammals

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Range

Arizona and Mexico

Size

Up to about 22 inches

Habitat

Desert grasslands, and canyons

Did You Know?

The Gila monster can store fat in their tails during times in which food supply is low, during hibernation and during pregnancy.

Green Tree Python Green Tree Python

Green Tree Python

Green tree pythons have diamond-shaped heads and unique scales. Although they are a bright green color, they often have white or yellow stripes along their back and may even have yellow, green, or blue spots.

Size

5 feet

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Tropical rainforests

Diet

Small mammals and reptiles

Did You Know?

Green tree pythons may have more than 100 teeth.

Range

New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and the northeast Cape York Peninsula of Australia

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is one of the smallest leaf-tailed gecko species. It has a horned head, red eyes, and a tail with notches that helps it mimic the look of decaying leaves.

Range

Madagascar

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Mountainous rainforest

Size

2.5 to 3.5 inches long

Diet

Crickets, flies, snails, spiders, and cockroaches

Did You Know?

The body of the satanic leaf-tailed gecko is curved like the edge of a leaf, and its skin is marked with lines that mimic a leaf's veins.

Green Iguana Green Iguana

Green Iguana

Green iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas. They live in humid, tropical rainforests and prefer to stay high up in the tree canopy. These amazing reptiles can communicate with each other nonverbally.

Range

Rain forests

Diet

Leaves, vines, fruits, and flowers

Range

Central Mexico, Paraguay, and Brazil

Size

Can reach over 5 feet, including their tail

Did You Know?

Green iguanas use their long, whip-like tails as a defense mechanism. When threatened, they can deliver painful strikes with their tails.

Hosmer's Spiny Tailed Skink Hosmer's Spiny Tailed Skink

Hosmer's Spiny Tailed Skink

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is a species of large skink, a type of lizard in the family Scincidae. They live in small colonies in rocky outcrops, hiding under crevices and the gaps between boulders, and are native to Northern Australia.

Habitat

Rocky areas

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

up to 23cm long

Range

Northern Australia

Diet

A variety of insects, leaves, shoots, and berries

Did You Know?

When alarmed, the skinks wedge themselves against rocks, puffing their bodies out so that their spines grip the rock. This makes them very hard to remove.

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

Canadian Waters

Embark on a coast-to-coast journey through freshwater wilds, local fisheries, and kelp forests, meeting more than 80 aquatic species, like sturgeon and the giant Pacific octopus, along the way!

Meet the Species
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